Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-30
DBMOCRACYAND DEMOCRACY.

4
the cardinal principles of Democracy would be
amusing were 1t not aggravating; but these
gentlemen will yet be brought to the rack and
compelled to eat or reject the Democratic fod
der. The Express in its time has been very
much buffeted about by some Of these gentle
men, who have many time and oft attempted
to hold it up to the scorn of Democrats because
1t would not bow to their dictation in matters
entirely non political, and In no way affecting
any fundamental principle of the Dem
ocratic party; 1t has been berated and
spurned because 1t would not hew to the
line marked out by them in the matter of
nominations for office; 1t has been informed
that failure in any one behest is treason to all,
and been incontinently bounced out of the
party scores of times because it would not mix
Democratic right with political wrong. When
it served the interests of these gentlemen 10
brand John Smith as a Democrat and run him
for town constable, and the Express believed
Peter Jones, a Republican, or independent or
whatever else he might be, the trustworthy and
efficient man to discharge the duties involved,
and said so, 1t has been roundy denounced as
DESERVING It's party and thereby endangering its
glorious principles. We have been urged
to support the nominees, no matter
who they were or by what means nomi
nated-to accept everything and anything to
maintain organization in behalf of the "glori
GUS principles of Democracy" and yet, when
one of the most strongly emphasized of these
principles is assaulted, some of these leaders
| Uhere being no official spoils to be disposed
| of step back and out of the way, and declare
1t is not party question, though 1t is proposed
| to do what nearly every Democratic convention
making a declaration of principles declared
| should not be done.
The convention at Dallas should lay down
some straight and pure Democratic law-law
that every Democrat must recognize as such
| and those OF the politician class who reject it
should be marked as Democrats for Office or
preferment only, and in the future be treated
| accordingly.-ISan Antonio Express.
The state convention at Galveston was
composed of Democrats who were Sc
lected by Democrats, acting under call
of Democratic executive committee, land
that Galveston Democratic convention,
made up of Democrats selected by Demo
Gratis in obedience to a Democratic call
addressed to Democrats only, deliberately
eliminated from the test of Democratic
fealty the votes of Democrats on ques-
ton which the Express now declares to
be cardinal Democratic principle, and
which that paper advises a convention to
be held at Dallas next month to proclaim
as Democratic law.
The Dallas convention will be COM
posed of men of all political parties; it
was not called as q Democratic conven-
ton; it will not meet as a Democratic
convention; and yet the Express would
have this convention define and proclaim
Democratic principle and Democratic
law. From Democratic convention at
Galveston, composed of Democrats only,
selected by Democrats only, the Express
appeals to a convention at Dallas, which
was not called as Democratic conven-
ton, which does not assume to
meet as a Democratic convention,
and in which Arch Cochran and
James Newcomb may sit as high priests
and assist in formulating Democratic
principle and proclaiming Democratic
law.
By the same token, the Prohibitionists
could call convention together and, with
the help of Wash Jones and Jerome
Kearby, define Democratic principle and
proclaim Democratic law.
The Democracy of Texas, by its highest
authority and in the only manner possible
TO it, has proclaimed the Democratic law
to each and every Democrat in Texas;
that law, Coke and Stewart and ExalI on
the one hand, and Maxey, Reagan and
Culberson on the other hand, obey; that
law nearly every Democrat of promi-
nence and devotion in the state obeys.
Who are these new law givers that would
snnul the Democratic law, officially pro-
claimed, and issue to the people an ipse
dixit from convention composed of men
of all political opinions2
The Democratic law of Texas is this:
"View this measure, discuss this meas
ure, vote on this measure according to
the dictates of your own judgment and
conscience, and there is no power or au-
thority in any man, or in any newspaper,
or in any convention of men to call your
Democracy in question because of your
speech or because of your vote-you are
liberated as individuals to act as individ-
uals, even to the calling in question
Of the wisdom of your liberation,
but the Democracy of Texas, as a party,
will take no part in this contest or
hold any member of it disloyal on &C
count of his action thereon" This was
the official proclamation of Democratic
law and when the Democratic convention
adjourned it did not transmit the
Democratic conscience to the San
Antonio Express for keeping, or to Arch
Cochran or Jerome Kearby to put on tap
in conventions where they might sit as
leaders.
This defiance of Democratic law comes |
with bad grace from those who proclaim
their right to sit in judgment on Demo
cratic action and support or oppose